By Rafal Juc
After weekend spent evaluating some of the best 1995 born European prospects in Belgrade, Serbia we report back with our thought. The leading scorer (18.6 points) and rebounder (9.4 rebounds) of the tournament, 6-11 center Dusan Ristic (’95) has achieved another milestone in his career, leading Crvena Zvezda to win at Nike International Junior Tournament in Belgrade, at the same being named MVP of the event. Already labeled as one of the most versatile big men in his generation in Europe, Ristic finished the NIJT as the most productive player with averages of: 18.6 points on 63.1% field goals, 9.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1 block in only 23:57 minutes per game, leading Crvena Zvezda Belgrade to 88:56 win over Mega Vizura in final.
Standing at 6-11 Ristic displays terrific size for his position, to go along with incredibly long wingspan and decent length. He’s fairly mobile big man who shows nice speed and mobility, nice coordination and average jumping abilities as well. While 18-year-old Serb is extremely skilled big man, the major question marks around him appear in either mental and physical appearance. Ristic lacks the higher degree of toughness - while posting up on the block, despite an advantage of size and length, he preferred to fade away rather than to go all the way to the basket, avoiding physical contact. Ristic who is simply kind young man, doesn’t like to fight with stronger front-court players, missing character and nastiness of “x-factor” as NBA scouts call it.
Offensively, there is no doubt that Ristic is one of the most skilled and versatile big men in his generation on this part of the ocean. As already said, Serb still struggles to establish deep post position due to his skinny frame, however he takes an advantage of his speed to find open looks in transition or rolling after ball screens. Once he receives the ball back to the basket, Ristic is capable of finishing it on several ways thanks to his polished post skills. He impresses with jump-hooks with either hand, drop-step move, hook shot or an ability to beat his opponent off the dribble facing up. He made 61.1% of his free throws, displaying nice follow-through and stroke in his release and showing a room to become reliable with his mid-range jumper.
Mobile, fluid and quite athletic Ristic possesses high basketball IQ, what allows him to read the defense and react immediately in order to improvise. With a view to NBA he has to improve his pick&roll game. As he lacks a blow of quickness, rolling to the basket Ristic often is covered, but with smart positioning forces opponents to rotate in order to fall into mismatch with smaller guard. He’s not selfish, however dished out only 6 assists in 5 games (1.2 per game), what shouldn’t be satisfactory for player who was mostly trapped on the low post, what could help him to open angles for teammates with kick-outs, skip passes and bounce passes to cutters. Nonetheless with his soft hands and high basketball IQ, he possesses room to become decent passing big man in type of Pau Gasol.
Defensively, Ristic possesses all necessary tools to become reliable defender on either 4 and 5 position - as his size, length and agility allow him to cover space inside the paint as well as stay in front of his man on the perimeter. Serb is quick enough to hedge hard on pick&roll and speed laterally enough to back to his own man on time. Although he tries to contest each shot in the paint, Ristic is still only average shot blocker (1 block per game) as he bites on pump fakes and sometimes simply stays upright in his stance with hands up instead of getting low on knees, stop dribble penetration and block it in right time. He undeniably lacks bulk, giving up position on the low post and getting outmuscled too easily. Anyway, he’s solid defender, but not sort of rim protector you might expect from someone with his physical tools. He still doesn’t look fully developed physical-wise, though. Ristic is very good offensive rebounder (2.8 per game in only 23:57), always crashing the glass and looking for put backs. Although he averaged also 6.6 defensive rebounds, he needs to get weight and strength to control the board on the higher level.
Recent MVP of Nike International Junior Tournament in Belgrade, Dusan Ristic has been on the radar since the long time, making a name for himself at Jordan Brand Classic, youth European Championships and Basketball without Borders. With his polished post game, soft touch from midrange, decent athleticism and incredible length, 18 years old has ceiling to be first-round pick in 2-3 years, however, at this moment due to poor frame and only an average presence on defensive end Ristic is considered as wait-and-see prospect. Continuing to grow into his frame and improving upper-body he should first of all prove his game at senior level as now struggles to held his own in most of match-ups in Serbian top division. Will be auto-eligible only in 2017 year.
